Orange County: Hotel-tax collections rise 9 percent in August

Orange County is on pace to collect a record amount of tourist-development taxes this fiscal year, after its August tally came in 9 percent above the same month a year ago.

County Comptroller Martha Haynie said the tax, which is collected from Orange County hotels and other short-term lodging establishments, generated $13.3 million during the month, compared with $12.2 million in August 2012. Haynie called the August results "another good increase" for the tax.

Through the first 11 months of the county's fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, the tax has generated $174.9 million — or nearly $11 million more than during the same period a year ago. The annual record for the hotel tax was set in 2011, when it generated $175.9 million.